PHL netters eye sweep vs Sri Lankans in Davis Cup

MANILA, Philippines – Sweep.

This is what Philippine Davis Cup coach Karl Sta. Maria hopes to achieve when the heavily favored Filipinos clash with the Sri Lankans in their Asia/Oceania Group Two tie this weekend at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City.

"Our hope is to clinch the tie on the second day because we don't want to face complications in the third and final day," said Sta. Maria, who will make his coaching debut since succeeding Chris Cuarto early this year.

Of course, the Phl is headed into its tie with Sri Lanka with a dominating 8-0 (win-loss) record in their head-to-head while announcing it will parade one of its strongest teams assembled with Treat Huey, Ruben Gonzalez, Patrick John Tierro and Francis Casey Alcantara all suiting up.

Huey is coming off from a solid performance for the Manila Mavericks in the fledgling International Premier Tennis League while Gonzalez won an ATP Challenger singles title last week in Mexico.

Alcantara, a doubles specialist who has an athletic scholarship at Pepperdine University, will also be available along with Tierro, the highest ranked Filipino being No. 1,089 in the ITF ranking who is playing the best tennis of his life.

Never mind that Sri Lanka is coached by former Swiss veteran Davis Cupper Dominik Utzinger, who also coached Roger Federer before his meteoric rise to the top of the world tennis stage.

So it will be disappointing if the Filipinos, sponsored by Cebuana Lhuillier, Yonex, Pasig City and the Philippine Sports Commission, lose now especially since it will play before a hometown crowd hungry for no less than a victory.

"We're not underestimating Sri Lanka but we want this win badly so it will not be a surprised if our players came out with strong performances," said Sta. Maria, who coached National University to multiple lawn tennis titles in the UAAP.

The drawing of lots will be held at 10 a.m. March 5 also at Valle Verde which is hosting the Davis Cup for the first time. Opening singles matches on March 6 will begin at 4 p.m. with opening ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Doubles match on March 7 and reverse singles on March 8 will begin at 3 p.m.

Sri Lanka team is composed of 19-year-old phenom Sharmal Dissanayake, Harsahana Godamanna, Dineshkantan Thangarajah and Sankha Atukarale. Non-playing captain is Rohan Silva.

Tickets are priced at P1,000 for a three-day pass, and P500 for a day pass. New Zealand’s David Smith will be the head ITF referee.